PEACE AT THE PLANT

Back on the job: 30,000 autoworkers at a Volkswagen plant. They ended a 48-day strike and returned to work Saturday after accepting a new wage and benefits package. The strike was the longest by autoworkers in Brazil's history. A defeat: The workers failed to win cost-of-living raises. They said they needed the raises to keep pace with Brazil's 224 percent rate of inflation. They also failed to have their workweek reduced from 48 to 40 hours. Gains: Bonuses and new job security provisions. Note: Another 15,000 workers are on strike at a Ford plant. The Labor Ministry predicted the sides would settle today.